It overtakes us whether we are ready or not. Though we know it’s always somewhere near.   We fight with it. We fall into it. We give in to it. It makes us do things we said we never would. It brings people together, even if that was the last of our intentions. The “L” word of the day: loneliness. Loneliness can do all of this to the soundest of minds. It can surface at any time. At the end of a mind-consuming project. In the middle of life’s challenges. After a soul-enriching weekend. During an isolating snowstorm. At a fork in the road. Loneliness, or worse yet, the fear…

Ah, the spark. That mix of electricity, adrenaline and intoxication all condensed into tiny sizzling pops that set off a chain of magnetic forces that lead two people together. Born from two-way chemistry. (Two, not one. A one-way attraction is just a crush.) When that spark pops, nature takes over and runs its course. There is no need to remember any rules, any tricks or any games that are designed to create connections. It all just happens. You never have to remember to laugh at his jokes because you’re already all smiles. You never have to strategize a flirtatious touch, you just reach out. There is no chasing, you just…

Last week, a friend and I were playing a game. We were out having dinner and observing couples around us and guessing what their stories were. First date? Friends? Lifetime partners? For as much as I could tell, we weren’t necessarily good at this game but that didn’t stop us from trying. Couple by the Window My friend described the girl as a typical Marina Girl. Young, attractive, big boobs readily displayed with a low neckline. Her date was attractive too. Well-dressed by Portland standards, typical by San Fran’s. Their conversation seemed strained. She sat back in her chair. He was not enchanting as demonstrated by her bored look. With…

Lesson #2: Recognize IOIs and IODs   Definitions: Indicators of Interest and Indicators of Disinterest: Things a woman does or says that communicates what she feels towards you. Adding to the Cast of Characters: Girl #2: We’ll call her Sunshine Girl #3: We’ll call her Totsie Rev Run comes back later in the evening because he had not picked up on the subtle but normally universal IODs (indicators of disinterest) delivered his way earlier. The back turn to block out conversation and the walk away apparently didn’t work so well, so the girls must amp up the level of IODs. IOD+ #1: Sunshine stares into what she thinks are the…

I admit. I watch VH-1’s reality show The Pick Up Artist (PUA). Why? Part train wreck, part research. I watch to: Evaluate what tactics boys could employ to pick a girl up Assess what tactics girls should employ to engage a pick up (It only makes sense to understand the weapons of war for both sides.) Although I’ve watched the show for a while and have been out and about all during that while, last weekend was the first time I really paid attention to my surroundings and actually noticed if and how any PUA methods were put into play. Fortunately for all of you…absolutely. There is specific terminology used…